Apparatus for making perforated bricks



Dec. 3, 1968 w. J. THOMAS, SR 3,413,694

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PERFORATED BRICKS I Filed Dec. 28, 1965 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR M M W ATTORNEYS Dec. 3, 1968 w. J. THOMAS, SR

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PERFOHATEI) BRICKS Filed Dec. 28, 1965 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Wa/z er Jf/zomg 52 %MMM% Dec. 3, 1968 w. J.THOMAS, SR 3,413,694

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PERFORATED BRICKS v Filed Dec. 28, 1965 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Waiiez Jfal/zw; J K25 -25 ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,413,694 APPARATUS FOR MAKING PERFORATED BRICKS Walter J.Thomas, Stu, Plymouth Meeting, Pa., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to International Minerals &

Chemical Corporation, Skokie, 111., a corporation of New York Filed Dec.28, 1965, Ser. No. 516,888 4 Claims. (Cl. 25-90) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a new and novel apparatusfor making perforated bricks, and more particularly to a hole makingattachment which can be incorporated with relatively conventional brickpress mechanism.

The present invention represents an improvement over a conventionalbrick press of the type known as the Boyd press such as shown in UnitedStates Patent No. 987,124. In this type of press, upper and lower diemeans are employed between which material is compressed, the materialbeing compressed within a mold means so as to form a finished brick ofdesired configuration.

The arrangement of the present invention provides an attachment whichcan be readily incorporated with this type of brick press and includesdifferent forms adapted to perforate the finished brick to provide ahole either completely therethrough or only partly therethrough asdesired. A particular advantage of the structure of the presentinvention is the fact that the attachment means may be employed bymaking only minor modifications to the conventional brick pressstructure.

The various components of each embodiment of the present invention maybe readily secured to certain portions of the brick press, and thepiercing means of the present invention is supported and guided in aunique manner. The upper plunger plate is ordinarily supported from theupper plunger by means of a pair of spaced bolts. In one form of thepresent invention, one of these bolts is provided with a boretherethrough, and the piercing means is slidably supported within thebore in such bolt. An aligned hole is provided in the associated dieplate so that the piercing means can reciprocate with respect to theupper die plate into and out of operative position. In this manner, theupper bolt means serves a dual function in supporting the upper plungerplate and upper die plate on the upper plunger and additionally as aguide bushing for the piercing means.

The lower bolts which hold the lower plunger plate and lower die plateto the lower plunger are also employed in the conventional manner, andone of these bolts is additionally provided with a bore in alignmentwith the bore in the upper bolt. The lower die plate is provided with ahole in alignment with the bore in the associated lower bolt, and thislatter hole and aligned bore serve as a means to relieve the pressureand excess material ahead of the piercing means as it moves downwardlythrough the material being pressed between the upper and lower dieplates within the mold means.

The piercing means is operated by a power operated mechanism which isautomatically controlled by the operice ation of the brick press so thatthe piercing means will be moved in timed relationship to the normaloperation of the press.

In the second form of the invention, the upper plunger is provided witha hole which has disposed therewithin a bearing means with a bore formedtherethrough. The piercing means is slidably positioned within thishearing means and is adapted to pass through an aligned hole formed inthe upper die plate. As in the other form of the invention, the poweroperated mechanism is supported by the upper portion of the apparatusand is movable therewith and operated in timed relationship to thenormal operation of the press.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novelapparatus for making perforated bricks.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for makingperforated bricks including an arrangement which may be readily attachedto an existing brick press.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for makingperforated bricks wherein the bolt means employed for holding certaincomponents together serves a dual function, firstly to serve as a guidemeans for the piercing means, and secondly to provide a means forrelieving pressure and excess material ahead of the piercing meansduring operation of the apparatus.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for makingperforated bricks which is quite simple and inexpensive in construction,and yet which is quite efficient and reliable in use.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent when considered in connection with the specification andaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with certainparts broken away for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 2looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the control system for controllingthe actuation of the power operating means of the hole making means;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a finished brick as manufacturedwith the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a modification of the present invention withcertain parts broken away and in section for the sake of illustration;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 88 of FIG. 7looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 9 is an end view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 with certainparts thereof broken away and in section to illustrate the details ofconstruction thereof.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a first formof the invention is shown in FIGS. 15 inclusive, wherein the crossheadof a generally convention'albrick press is indicated by referencenumeral 10, this crosshead being adapted to reciprocate in a verticaldirection in the usual manner. The upper plunger is indicated byreference numeral 12 and defines a pair of cavities 14 and 16 at theopposite ends thereof. A pair of bolts 18 and 20 extend upwardly throughsuitable holes provided in the top portion of the upper plunger and arethreaded into corresponding threaded holes formed in the crosshead. Inthis manner, the upper plunger is supported on the crosshead.

The upper plunger plate is indicated by reference numeral 24 and theupper die plate is indicated by reference numeral 26, the die platebeing supported from the plunger plate by means of screws or the like 28extending through suitable holes provided in the plunger plate and beingthreaded into corresponding threaded holes provided in the die plate.

The upper plunger plate 24 is secured to the upper plunger 12 by meansof a pair of bolts 32, each of these bolts being threaded downwardlythrough aligned threaded openings provided in the upper plunger and theupper plunger plate. As seen most clearly in FIG. 3, bolt 32 is providedwith a central cylindrical bore 34 formed therethrough, and die plate 26is provided with a hole 36 in alignment with the bore 34.

A lower plunger 40 may be of substantially the same construction as theupper plunger 12, and a lower plunger plate 42 and lower die plate 44may be of the same construction as the corresponding members 24 and 26respectively. The lower die plate 44 is secured to the lower plungerplate 42 by means of screws 46 which extend through suitable holesprovided in the lower plunger plate. and are threaded intocorrespondingly threaded holes provided in the lower die plate.

The lower plunger plate is secured to the lower plunger 40 by means of apair of bolts 48 and 50 which are threaded through aligned threadedopenings provided in these two members. Bolt 50 is provided with asubstantially cylindrical bore 52 extending therethrough, and die plate44 is provided with a hole 54 in alignment with bore 52 for a purposehereinafter described.

The upper and lower portions described hereinabove are adapted tocooperate with a mold means, and as seen in FIG. 3, an opposite pair ofmold walls 58 and 60 are illustrated, it being understood that the moldmeans provides a cavity closed on all sides of a suitable shape toprovide the desired finished configuration to the manufactured brick. Asseen in FIG. 3, a body of material 62 is being compressed between theupper and lower die plates within the mold means.

The hole making attachment means of the present invention includes apiercing means indicated generally by reference numeral 70, thispiercing means as seen n FIG. 3 including a generally cylindrical upperportion 72 which snugly and slidably fits within the bore 34 in bolt 32as well as the hole 36 in the die plate 26. The outer surface of thelower portion 74 of the piercing means is tapered downwardly toward thelower end thereof. The upper end of the piercing means is threaded asindicated at 76 and is threaded into a correspondingly threaded holeprovided in the lower enlarged portion of a link member 78. A pin 80extends through suitable holes provided in link 78 and the upper end ofthe piercing means to retain these members in operative relationshipwith respect to one another.

A bar member 84 extends between spaced portions at one end of the upperplunger 12 as seen most clearly in FIG. 1 and is secured in place by apair of screws 86 which extend through suitable holes provided in thebar member and are threaded into correspondingly threaded holes in theupper plunger. A bracket member 88 is secured as by welding or the liketo the bar member and extends outwardly therefrom and includes a pair ofspaced depending arms 90 and 92.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 4, an operating arm 94 is provided, thisoperating arm being pivotally supported from the bracket 88 by means ofa pivot pin 95 extending through suitable holes provided in arms 90 and92 of the bracket as well as an aligned hole in the operating arm andbeing retained in operative position by a pin 96. One end of theoperating arm is bifurcated to provide a pair of spaced longitudinallyextending portions 98, and the opposite end of the operating arm isbifurcated to provide a pair of spaced longitudinally extending portions100. longitudinally extending slots 102 are provided in each of theportions 98, and similar longitudinally extending slots 104 are providedin each of the longitudinally extending portions 100.

A pivot pin extends through a hole provided in the upper end of link 78,pivot pin 110 being retained in operative position by a pin 112. It willbe noted that the opposite ends of pin 110 are slidably positionedwithin the slots 102 so that the link 78 is effectively pivotallyinterconnected with one end of the operating arm and is adapted to moveupwardly and downwardly in response to pivotal movement of the operatingarm.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 1, an attaching plate is indicated byreference numeral 120, this attaching plate being generally T-shaped inconfiguration and being secured to the crosshead 10 by a pair of screws112.

Power operated actuating means for the hole making attachment meanscomprises a pneumatic cylinder 124 of conventional construction, thispneumatic cylinder being supported on plate by a plurality of screws126. Conduits 128 and 130 are connected with opposite ends of thepneumatic cylinder and are interconnected with a source of gas underpressure as hereinafter described.

A piston rod 134 extends outwardly of the pneumatic cylinder 124, itbeing understood that a conventional piston is slidably positionedwithin the cylinder. A member 136 is connected with the lower end of thepiston rod, the reduced lower portion of member 136 fitting between theportions 100 of the operating arm.

A pin 138 extends through a suitable hole provided in the lower end ofmember 136, pivot pin 138 being retained in operative position by a pin140. It will be noted that the opposite ends of pin 138 are slidablypositioned within the slots 104 in portions 100 of the operating arm,and in this manner the power operated actuating means is pivotallyinterconnected with the associated end of the operating arm.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the conduit means 128 and 130 are connectedwith a pair of solenoid valves and 152 respectively. These solenoidvalves are in turn connected with conduit portions 154 and 156respectively which are interconnected with a conduit 158 which is inturn connected with a suitable source of air or the like under pressuresufficient to operate the pneumatic power operating means.

The two solenoid valves 150 and 152 are connected in a suitableelectrical circuit for operating the solenoid valves at the proper time.Solenoid valves 150 and 152 are grounded by leads 160 and 162respectively. An electrical lead 164 connected with solenoid valve 150is in turn connected with a switch 166 adapted to connect or disconnectlead 164 with a lead 168 which in turn is connected with a suitablesource of electrical energy. Solenoid valve 152 is connected by lead 170with a switch 172 which is adapted to connect or disconnect lead 170with a lead 174 which is also connected with a suitable source ofelectrical energy.

Switches 166 and 172 are controlled by timing cams 176 and 178 which arefixed for rotation with a portion 180 which may comprise a horizontalaxial extension of the main press shaft or crankshaft. Thisinterconnection may be similar to that shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,455,-823 wherein the rotary cam member of the timing switch is fixed upon ahorizontal axial extension of the main press shaft or crankshaft. Withthis arrangement, the operation of the solenoid operated valves 150 and152 is coordinated in timed relationship with the movement of thecrossheads and plungers connected thereto.

It is evident from an inspection of FIG. 5 that when solenoid valve 150is energized to permit air under pressure to enter the top of pneumaticcylinder 124, the piston rod 134 thereof will move downwardly. Thesolenoid valves 150 and 152 are provided with vents 150' and and 152',and when the aforedescribed movement of piston rod 134 downwardlyoccurs, the vent means 152 will be open to permit the air in the lowerpart of the cylinder to escape. It is apparent that when it is desiredto again raise the piston rod 134, the operation of the solenoid valves150 and 152 will be reversed.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a completed brick according to the presentinvention is illustrated, the brick being indicated by reference numeral184 and being in this instance of generally rectangular shape. It willbe understood that the brick can have any suitable desiredconfiguration. The finished brick will be provided with a hole 186extending completely therethrough. This hole may be put in either astraight brick as shown or a key brick. When the hole is put in a keybrick, it will always be put in the large end thereof.

In the operation of the apparatus and in carrying out the method of thepresent invention, assuming the upper portion of the apparatus to be inits uppermost position, the piston rod 134 will be in its lowermostposition as indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 2 so that the operatingarm will be in position to raise the piercing means to retract thepiercing means slidably through the bore 34 and hole 36 in the bolt 32and die plate 26 respectively.

As the upper crosshead moves downwardly carrying the plunger, theplunger plate and the die plate move downwardly therewith, and theoperating arm is moved into the full line position as shown in FIG. 2 toextend the piercing'means to its maximum extent beneath the upper dieplate just before it enters the mold cavity. The piercing means remainsin this extended position as the material within the mold cavity iscompressed between the upper and lower die plates, and the bore 52 inthe lower bolt 50 and the hole 54 in the lower die plate 44 serve torelieve the pressure and excess material ahead of the piercing means asit moves downwardly through the material within the mold means.

The piercing means is again retracted by moving the operating arm 94into the phantom line position shown in FIG. 2 just before the finishedbrick is removed from the mold cavity and while pressure is still beingapplied to the finished brick. The die plates are then moved apart andthe completed brick is removed from the mold to provide the finishedconfiguration shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 79 inclusive, a modification of the invention isillustrated. The crosshead of the brick press is indicated by referencenumeral 200 and is adapted to reciprocate in a vertical direction. Theupper plunger is indicated by reference numeral 202, this upper plungerbeing secured to the crosshead by a pair of similar bolts 204 whichextend upwardly through suitable holes provided in a skirt portion 206and are threaded into correspondingly threaded holes formed in thecrosshead.

The upper die plate is indicated by reference numeral 210, and the upperplunger 202 is provided with a pair of spaced cutout portions 214. Apair of similar bolts 216 are threaded downwardly throughcorrespondingly threaded aligned holes provided in the upper plunger andin the die plate for securing the upper plunger and the upper die platein the operative position illustrated.

A lower die plate 220 is provided, this lower die plate being mounted ona suitable lower plunger which may be similar to the upper plunger 202.It will be understood that the upper and lower portions including theupper and lower die plates are adapted to cooperate with the mold meansin the same manner as discussed in connection with the previousmodification, and no further discussion or illustration of this featureis considered necessary in connection with the modification shown inFIGS. 7-9 inclusive.

The piercing means of this form of the invention is illustratedgenerally by reference numeral 230, the piercing means having an outersurface on the lower portion 232 thereof which tapers downwardly towardthe lower end of the piercing means. The piercing means is illustratedin its lowermost limit of movement in FIG. 7, and it will be apparentthat with the die means at their limits of movement as illustrated, thepiercing means will form a perforation only part way through thecompleted brick.

The upper end 234 of the piercing means is threaded into acorrespondingly threaded hole provided in a slidable member 236. Thismember 236 is mounted for sliding movement within a hole 238 formedvertically within the upper plunger 202. A whole 240 is provided in theupper die plate 210, and a hole 242 is provided in the skirt portion206, the latter two holes being generally in alignment with the hole 238formed in the upper plunger. The hole 238 opens through the right sideof plunger 202 as seen in FIG. 7 to provide an elongated slot therein,and the hole is further provided with a slightly enlarged portion asseen in FIG. 7 opposite to the slot formed in the side of the plunger.

A bearing means 246 is press-fitted within the lower portion of the holeformed in the upper plunger and within an enlarged counterbored portionof the hole 240 in the upper die plate 210. The main cylindrical bodyportion of the piercing means 230 is slidably positioned within alongitudinally extending bore provided in bearing member 246 whereby thepiercing means is guided and supported during vertical reciprocationthereof. The slidable member 236 is provided with a recessed portion 250therewithin including sloping cutout portions 252 and 254 for a purposehereinafter described. The recess 250 is adapted to receive the roundedend portion 260 of an operating arm 262. The cutout portions 252 and 254provide clearance with the operating arm 262 at the opposite limits ofits movement. The outer end of operating arm 262 is secured to a shaft264 for rota-tion therewith. As seen in FIG. 9, a jam nut and washerassembly 266 is provided on a threaded reduced end portion 268 of shaft264 for holding the outer end of operating arm 262 in operativeposition.

A bracket support member 272 is secured to the upper plunger 202 by apair of bolts 274 passing through suitable openings provided in bracket272 and being threaded into correspondingly threaded holes provided inthe upper plunger. Bracket support 272 includes a member 276 having abore formed therethrough which supports a pair of spaced bearings 278which serve to support the shaft 264 for rotation with respect thereto.

A hollow housing member 280 is secured to the upper plunger by a pair ofbolts 282 extending through suitable openings provided in the housingportion 280 and being threaded into correspondingly threaded holesprovided in the upper plunger. It will be noted that this housingportion 280 normally serves to cover and protect the end of the shaft264 and the associated portion of the operating arm 262.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 9, the left-hand end portion of shaft 264is provided with a key 284, this portion of the shaft and the key beingreceived Within a correspondingly shaped hole provided in the end of aconnecting link 286, the shaft and link being retained in theiroperative position shown by a set screw 288 threaded through a suitablehole provided in link 286 and engaging the shaft 264.

The upper end of link 286 is bifurcated to provide the two portions 290which are pivotally interconnected with a male rod end 292 by a nut andbolt assembly indicated by reference numeral 294.

The rod end 292 is interconnected with the piston rod 300 which in turnis interconnected with the piston disposed within a conventionalpneumatic cylinder 302. The cylinder 302 includes an attaching lugportion 304 which is pivotally interconnected with a bracket member 306by a suitable pin 305.

Bracket 306 is supported by means of bolts 308 from a bracket 310 whichin turn is supported by bolts 312 from an angle member 314 which issecured to the crosshead 200 by means of bolts 316.

The piercing means is shown in FIG. 7 in its lowermost extendedposition, and the remaining components are shown in a corresponding fullline position. The phantom line position as seen in FIG. 7 illustratesthe position of the connecting link 286 and the associated componentswhen the apparatus is in such a position to retract the piercing meansso that it will be withdrawn through the hole in the upper die plate210. It will be understood that the pneumatic cylinder 302 illustratedin this latter form of the invention may be operated by the sameoperating system as shown in FIG. of the drawings so that the operationof the piercing means is carried out in timed relationship to themovement of the upper and lower portions of the brick press. It will ofcourse be evident that the method carried out by the apparatus shown inFIGS. 7-9 inclusive will be the same as that previously described.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according tothe present invention a new and novel method and apparatus for makingperforated bricks. The arrangement of the present invention may bereadily attached to an existing brick press. In one form of theinvention, the upper bolt means provides the dual function of boltingthe upper plunger and upper plunger plate together and at the same timeserving as a guide bushing for the piercing means, while the lower boltmeans serves the dual function of interconnecting the lower plunger andlower plunger plate and also to relieve the pressure and excess materialahead of the piercing means as it moves downwardly through the materialin the mold cavity. In another form of the invention, a bearing means isprovided for guiding sliding movement of the piercing means duringvertical reciprocation thereof, this bearing means being press-fittedinto suitable holes provided in the upper plunger and upper die plate.The apparatus of the present invention is quite simple and inexpensivein construction, and yet at the same time is quite eflicient andreliable in operation.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changesthat fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form theirfunctional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are thereforeintended to be embraced by those claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for making perforated bricks comprising an upper portionand a lower portion, said upper portion including an upper crosshead, anupper plunger secured to said crosshead, an upper plunger plate, and anupper die plate with a hole therethrough, said upper plunger plate andsaid upper die plate being releasably interconnected with one another,bolt means securing said upper plunger plate to said upper plunger, saidlower portion including a lower plunger, a lower plunger plate and alower die plate, said lower plunger plate and said lower die plate beingreleasably interconnected with one another, bolt means securing saidlower plunger plate to said lower plunger, mold means for receiving saidupper and lower die plates to compress material between said die platesWithin said mold means, piercing means adapted to p ject through saidupper die plate hole and between said mold means, said first mentionedbolt means having a bore formed therethrough for slidably receiving saidpiercing means, bracket means releasably secured to said upper portion,a rocker arm pivotally supported by said bracket means and vhaving oneend interconnected with said piercing means for moving said piercingmeans, power operated means releasably supported by said upper portionand operatively connected with the other end of said rocker ,arm formoving said piercing means with respect to said upper portion.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the respective ends of therocker arm are slotted and slidably receive the pivot pins carried bythe respective piercing means and power means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower portion includesa hole in vertical alignment with said bore and upper die plate hole.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said lower portion .hole ispartially defined by a bore formed through said second mentioned boltmeans.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 680,837 8/1901 Bland 2535 X1,396,779 11/1921 Post et al. 2534 X 1,648,721 11/1927 Claus 18-16.7 X2,476,653 7/1949 Elberty 2534 X 3,210,450 10/1965 Bratton 25-34 X J.SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

R. D. BALDWIN, Assistant Examiner.

